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Restorations

San Pedro’s fabulous and historic Warner Grand Theatre has undergone significant renovations and updates, screens movies, and hosts special events, but not too far away, the similarly handsome Granada Theatre in Wilmington, CA has not had the same good fortune. Yet…

From the Preservation Nation Blog: In the upcoming Summer 2015 issue of Preservation, we take a peek behind the curtain at the newly renovated Kings Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Seized during the 1970s in lieu of back taxes, the historic venue idled vacant until the New York City Economic Development Corporation issued a Request for Proposals to restore it in 2008.

A consortium of groups participated in the project, spearheaded by ACE Theatrical Group and Martinez+Johnson Architecture. Here are some excerpts from the national Trusts' wide-ranging conversation with Gary Martinez, president and principal at Martinez+Johnson and a link to the full article.

Brooklyn legend has it that a teenage Barbra Streisand pointed to the marquee of the Loew’s Kings movie palace and said, “Someday, my name is going to be up there.”

Indeed it was for 1973’s “The Way We Were,” but the grand old theater was shuttered four years later. Now the Kings is reopening its doors to the public, reborn as a performing arts center worthy of someday hosting a Streisand concert.

After neglect, water damage, looting and threats of demolition, the Kings has undergone a spectacular $95 million restoration. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday will be followed by a free performance by community groups on Jan. 27, an inaugural concert by Diana Ross on Feb. 3 and an open house on Feb. 7.

“After almost four decades of heartbreak, this is next to a miracle and a very big deal for Brooklyn residents,” says borough historian Ron Schweiger. “We’re going to have a beautiful new performing arts venue right in the heart of Brooklyn that will draw people from all over and revitalize the commercial strip along Flatbush Avenue.”

ALBION, MI — The Bohm Theatre could be returning earlier than expected with a possible November opening. The final touches are currently being made on a lovingly-crafted restoration that will respect the design of the gem but still bring it up to today’s standards.

BROOKLYN, NY — The highly anticipated restoration of the Loew’s Kings is coming along with the end in sight. The New York Daily News has some great photos courtesy of Matt Lambros of the remarkable progress and details on how they got to this point.

PITTSBURGH, PA — Ever wondered what goes into running a historic movie palace? Keystone Edge delved into it with a look at the day to day operations of the Benedum Center, Byham Theatre and Heinz Hall. Check out what it takes to keep these palaces running and the interesting obstacles that come up when showcasing features that are both vintage and brand new.

CARTERET, NJ — Plans are coming together for the restoration announced three months ago of the Ritz Theater. The plan now is to also build a movie theater next door with a complementary mission. The hope is that everything will be ready by 2017.

UPDATE: Workers have already started to remove the drop ceiling in the Ritz, exposing the old ornate ceiling and the proscenium.

PLAINVIEW, TX — Almost 85 years after its opening, the Granada Theatre is finally in the process of a return. A man with family ties to the theatre, Darryl Holland, is leading a restoration and is kicking off the comeback campaign with a slate of concerts over Labor Day weekend.

FORT SMITH, AR — The 1929 Masonic Temple has finally found a suitor as the production company Fiery Moon is negotiating to take it over and restore it. The plan to restore the theatre there as well which had been leased out recently.